is250 vs. 325i

Actually Dave the bulb fittings for US cars is notably different from Euro ones
as I have found out when a guy bought a set of LHD headlamps for a Rover 827
from me. They were originally fitted to a Rover 827 for use in France and when
the car came back to the UK the original RHD lamp units were fitted back. The
LHD units were wanted to replace the crap round lights fitted too the US
versions. Oops! the lights fitted Ok but couldn't get the bulbs in the US so I
had to export a box of 10 LHD bulbs for him.
Hugh

My 1992 SC400 (196K miles) has never had a burned out headlight (high or low
beam), tail light, or directional signal (front or rear) bulb. I bought it
new in Aug, 1991.
However, the red instrument needles all (speedo, tach, water temp, fuel
level) gave up before I had them rebuilt. Also had to replace
"fogged/leaking" climate control LCD (but none of the backlight bulbs had
burned out in instrument cluster or climate control, although I replaced
them anyway on rebuild).
Also had a 1991 LS400 for many years and only had one tail light bulb go bad
in that.

I've had to replace almost every single outside bulb on my 2004 Volvo S60 T5
and the low beams at least twice. The only one's that haven't gone "zzt"
are the high beams. My 97 Acura 3.0CL has 176k miles and all the original
bulbs. Why?
Sam S.

My Japanese cars have been *exceedingly* inexpensive to maintain,
and as reliable as an anvil.
-----
Kill ratio of Palestinian children to Israeli children 5.7-to-1,
Israel's favor.
Kill ratio of all Palestinians to Israelis: over 3-to-1.
---------
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/print/mear01_.html
----------
"Don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We,
the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it."
---Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, 2001

As far as parts prices, BMW parts are really no more expensive than
for any other make, as far as my observations are concerned.
The problem with BMW is reliability. Except for the engines
(which may be the best in the world), BMW owners can expect
failures in other systems, and often.
-----
Kill ratio of Palestinian children to Israeli children 5.7-to-1,
Israel's favor.
Kill ratio of all Palestinians to Israelis: over 3-to-1.
---------
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/print/mear01_.html
----------
"Don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We,
the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it."
---Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, 2001

Can they? I'm on my third in about 15 years - all bought secondhand - and
I've not had 'failure in other systems, and often' - even if I knew what
that was. ;-)
All makes need replacements from time to time. The difference is how
frequently this occurs which may be where the reliability surveys come
from. But they don't mean *every* car in that range will be the same.

I have an 02 manual transmission IS300. From what I understand about
the IS250-350, they are fast cars, but not particularly sporty (seems
to be a Lexus characteristic, unfortunately). the BMW is probably
going to be a bit more of a "driver's car" but from everything I've
read, the Lexus will be the more reliable of the two by far.

If you're looking at those two particular cars you are, evidently, intersted
in the driving dynamics. If that's the case, I'd choose the BMW.
If all you are interested in is reliability, pick the Lexus (or any other
driving appliance).

I would not go quite that far... I think that a prior poster got it
right. The BMW is a better driver's car. The Lexus will be a softer
ride (mushy) and marginally more reliable. If talking new cars, the
maintenance on the BMW will be covered under warranty. But even for
cars out-of-warranty I would not expect to save much with the reliable
Lexus.

I'll be the first to admit that, I don't have much confidence in the new
cars. But if you can afford a Maybach you probably don't care.
I did see an old 240Z yeterday but the point remains you don't see many
old Japanese cars. I imagine getting parts for them might be an issue but
I'm just guessing.
Ironically the motor in that 240Z is a copy of the MB 6 from that era.
Copy copy copy.

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